Margin signal for typewriters



NOV."17, 1959 .A Q s, BOLING v MARGIN SIGNAL FOR TYPEWRITES Filed June 2, 1958 INVENTolL" MARGIN SIGNAL FOR TYPEWRITERS Owen S. Boling, Indianapolis, Ind. Application June 2, 1958, Serial No. 739,209

9 Claims. (Cl. 197187) This invention relates to means for use in association with a typewriter to provide a signal when, in movement of the carriage, the desired margin of the typed ,matter is approached. Typewriters are commonly built vwith means providing an audible signal for such purpose; but such audible signal is of little benefit to the hard of hearing, is sometimes masked by outside noises, and, moreover, is usually given ,at a point so close to the margin that 'the typist is unable to accommodate ythe typ ing to the approaching margin. If the signal is given far enough from the margin to provide 'the typist an adequate opportunity to accommodate ythe typing, it becomes difficult for the typist to bear in mind the number of spaces still available.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a signalling means which will give a pair of signalsas the carriage approaches its limit of movement. Another object is to provide a device which can, with simple adjustment, be readily brought into operative association with typewriters of any standard or customary model.

Desirably, the signals given by my device a-re visual in character and their respective emission points are so spaced along the path of carriage travel that the first or warning signal provides an adequate -opportunty for lthe typing to be accommodated to the approaching margin, while the second signal divides the interval between the rst signal and the attainment of the limited carriage movement. Conveniently, although not necessarily, my device is made as an attachment which can readily be applied to a wide variety-of typewriters. To the latter end, the preferred device comprises a base having a thin extension adapted to be--placed and held in position beneath a foot of the typewriter. Such vbase carries a vertically adjustable bracket which, in turn, carries a slide movable in a direction parallel to that of thev movement of the typewriter carriage. By appropriate positioning of the base and vertical adjustment of the bracket, the slide can be positioned opposite the end of the typewriter vcarriage to be engaged thereby as it approaches the end of its movement. The slide and the carriage are equipped with cooperating contacts successively interengageable as the slide is moved by the typewriter carriage. Other features and objects of the invention -will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig l is a fragmental front elevation of a typewriter showing my device arranged in association therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the signalling device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a preferred form of electrical wiring and signal.

The typewriter shown in the drawing has the usual carriage 11 which, as the right-hand margin of the paper is approached, projects from the left-hand side of the typewriter. As illustrated, ,my device compriseslabase ice 12, conveniently formed of sheet metal and thin enough to be positioned beneath the rear foot `13 of the typewriter. .Extending upwardly from the base 10 is an upright portion 14 having guides 15 for a vertically slidable bracket 16. Any convenient means may be employed for adjusting the `bracket, vertically in the upright portion 14, the means shown comprising a toothed rack 18 fixed to the bracket and a rack-engaging pinion 19 Xed to a manually rotatable shaft 2t) supported from the upright 14.

At its upper end, the vbracket 16 has ahorizontal eX- tension 22 adapted to slidably support an elongated member 24 which is desirably of channel section, las shown in Fig. 2. Near the upper edges of the side walls of the member 24 such side walls are provided with parallel, 'opposed grooves 25 vwhich slidably receive a slide 26\.

`The' member 24, which is desirably of electrical insulating materiaLis provided with a set of electrical contactsshown as comprising a pair of contacts 28 and 29 mounted in one of lits side walls and a third contact 30 mounted in its bottom wall. The slide 26 carries a .first contact 32 cooperating with :the fixed contacts 23 and 29 and a second contact 33 cooperating with the xed contact 30. The .movable contacts 32 and 33 are electrically interconnected, and may conveniently be formed from the same piece of metal. Electrically connected to each of the fixed contacts 28, 29, and 30, respectively, are terminals 35, 36, and 37 mounted on the member 2.4.

The signalling device shown in the drawing comprises a base or housing 38 supporting two lamps 39,and 40 which desirably vhave diierent colors, as red andgreen. From one side of the base or housing 38 there extends a three-conductor cable or cord 41, the conductors 42, 43, and 44 of which are provided with end pieces or tips adapted for connection to the terminals 3S, 36, and 37. From the other side of the base or housing 38 there extends a cord 46 containing a continuation of the conducto-r 44 and another conductor 47. A plug 48 on the end of cable 46 adapts the conductor 44 and 47 for connection to a source of electricity. One of the lamps 39 and 40 is connected between the conductors 43 and 47 and the other between the conductors 42 and 47.

When the slide 26 is at the rightward limit of its movement as shown in the drawing, the movable contacts 32 and 33 are in a position such that no electrical connection is established between the Xed contact 30 and either of the other fixed contacts. As the slide moves to the left, however, the contacts 32 and 33 successively establish a connection between the contacts 3i) and 28 to flash on the warning lamp 39, break that connection as contact 32 moves out of engagement with contact 28, and nally establish a connection between contacts 30 and 29 to ash on the stop lamp 40.

It will be understood that the leftward movement of the slide 26 above described will be caused by leftward movement of the typewriter carriage 11 and that it will be necessary to provide some means for restoring the slide to its initial position when the carriage 11 is moved to the right. To that end, I may afliX to the slide 26 a small permanent magnet 50 the pole-pieces of which project outwardly to be engaged by the end of the carr'iage 11. After such engagement occurs the slide will move to the left with the carriage to cause successive lighting of the lamps 39 and 40 as set forth above. When the carriage moves to the right, the magnet 50 will be held against it by magnetic attraction and the slide will move to the right with the carriage. An abutment 52 carried by the member 24 in position to engage the slide may be employed -to prevent rightward movement of the slide beyond `its initial position shown.

3 As indicated previously, the member 24 is desirablf,r slidable longitudinally of itself in the bracket 22. To control its position, it may be provided with a lug 54 'which screw-threadedly receives an adjusting screw S6 rotatably mounted on the bracket 22.

In use, the device is disposed at the left of the typewriter and the shaft 20 is adjusted so as to position the magnet S opposite and in line with a at end surface of the typewriter carriage 11. The carriage is then brought to the desired leftward limit of its movement and the screw 56 adjusted to position the iixed contact 29 in the desired relation to the contact 32 on the slide, which is displaced to the left by the carriage 11. These operations place the device in condition for operation. When the carriage 11 moves to the right, the slide 26 will follow it until the stop 52 is engaged, and the slide will then remain stationary until, in the ensuing leftward movement of the carriage, the magnet is engaged by the carriage to cause the slide to move to the left and successively light the lamps 39 and 40 as above set forth.

The lengths and relative positions of the contacts 28 and 29 will determine the intervals between signals given by the device. For example, assume that the contact 28 has a length equal to six spaces or increments of carriage movement, that there is a gap of two spaces between the contacts 28 and 29, and that the slide 24 is adjusted to position the contact 29 so that it will be engaged by the contact 32 four spaces from the limit of carriage movement. A ash of the warning lamp 39 would then indicate to the operator that twelve spaces of carriage movement remained, extinguishing of the lamp 39 would show that six, spaces remained, and a flash of the stop lamp 40 would signal that only four spaces remained.

lt will be understood that the specific device illustrated and described is set forth merely by way of example, that many modifications are possible, and that the scope of the invention is to be measured by the appended claims.

I claimV as my invention:

1. A margin signalling device for typewriters for determining the approach of the end of the typewriter carriage travel, comprising a base section, a slide-supporting memlber mounted on said base and provided with a first set of electrical contacts disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a slide adapted to be interconnected to a typewriter carriage for movement therewith along said slidesupporting member,`a second set of contacts on said slide successively engageable with said irst set of contacts upon movement of the slide by the carriage to successively close a pair of eletcrical circuits to a pair of signal lamps indicating the carriage approach to its right hand margin, and means to supply an electric current to said circuits.

2. A margin signalling device for typewriters for determining the approach of the end of the typewriter carriage travel, comprising a base section, a slide-supporting member mounted on said base and provided with a lirst set of electrical contacts disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a slide adapted to be interconnected to a typewriter carriage for movement therewith along said slidesupporting member, said slide and slide-supporting member being vertically adjustable on said base to dispose said slide in the path of travel of the typewriter carriage, a second set of contacts on said slide successively engageable with said iirst set of contacts upon movement of the slide by the carriage to successively close a pair ot electrical circuits to a pair of signal lamps indicating the carriage approach to its right hand margin, and means to supply an electrical current to said circuits.

3. A margin signalling device as set forth in claim 2 with the addition that said slide-supporting member is adapted to project laterally outwardly from the left side of said typewriter below the path of the carriage travel.

4. A margin signalling device for typewriters for determining the approach of the end of the typewriter carriage travel, comprising a base section, a slide-supporting member mounted on said base and provided with a first set of electrical contacts disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a slide adapted to be interconnected to a typewriter carriage for movement therewith along said slidesupporting member, a second set of contacts on said slide successively engageable with said first set of contacts upon movement of the slide by the carriage to suc? cessively close a pair of electrical circuits to a pair of signal lamps indicating the carriage approach to its right hand margin, said slide-supporting member being adjustable on said base to vary the amount of leftward carriage movement necessary to close the circuits to said signal lamps, and means to supply an electrical current to said circuits.

5. A margin signalling device for typewriters for determining the approach of the end of the typewriter carriage travel, comprising a base section adapted to be inserted beneath a foot of the typewriter, a slide-supporting member mounted on said base and provided with a iirst set of electrical contacts disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a slide adapted to be interconnected to a typewriter carriage for movement therewith along said slidesupporting member, a second set of contacts on said slide successively engageable with said first set of contacts upon movement of the slide by the carriage to successively close a pair of electrical circuits to a pair of signal lamps indicating the carriage approach to its right hand margin, and means to supply an electric current to said circuits.

6. A margin signalling device for typewriters for determining the approach of the end of the typewriter carriage travel, comprising a base section, a slide-supporting member mounted on said base and provided with a first set of electrical contacts disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a slide adapted to be releasably connected to a typewriter carriage for movement therewith along said slide-supporting member as said carriage approaches the end of its travel, av second set of contacts on said slide successively engageable with said first set of contacts upon movement of the slide by the carriage to successively close a pair of electrical circuits to a pair of signal lamps indicating the carriage aproach to its right hand margin, and means to supply an electric current to said circuits.

7. A margin signalling device as set forth in claim 6 with the addition that said slide is releasably connected to said carriage by a magnet adapted to releasably hold said slide against the left end wall of the typewriter carnage.

8. A margin signalling device for typewriters for determining the approach of the end of the typewriter carriage travel, comprising a base section, a slide-supporting member mounted on said base and provided with a rst set of electrical contacts disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a slide adapted to be interconnected to a typewriter carriage for movement therewith along said slide-supporting member, leftward movement of said slide being limited by the marginal stop on said carriage and rightward movement being limited by a stop on said slidesupporting member engageable with a stop on said slide, a second set of contacts on said slide successively engageable with said iirst set of contacts upon movement of the slide by the carriage to successively close a pair of electrical circuits to a pair of signal lamps indicating the carriage approach to its right hand margin, and means to supply an electric current to said circuits.

9. In combination with a typewriter, a margin signal-A ling device adapted to produce a plurality of successive Visual signals as the typewriter carriage approaches its right hand margin, said signalling device comprising a base section insertable below a foot on said typewriter for holding the device in operative association with said typewriter, a slide-supporting member vertically adjustable on said base to project outwardly from said typewriter below the path of the carriage travel, a first set of spaced electrical contacts on said slide-supporting member, a slide adapted to be moved by said carriage along said slide-supporting member and having an electrical contact successively engageable with said rst set of contacts upon movement'of the slide by the carriage to successively close a pair of electrical circuits, a signal lamp in each of said circuits each of which is individually energized by the successive closing of its circuit by said 10 contacts to give a pair of successive visual signals as the carriage approaches its right hand margin, and means to supply power to said circuits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

